Nick: Justice Series (14 page)

Her mom glared at her grandmother. She wasn’t wanted. Not by the two people in the world that had brought her into it. Sitting down, she stared at her mom, then her father. It was time to fix this. And she was past caring how they felt about it. Turning to Benson, she smiled at him.

“Since they don’t want to deal with me, I’ll have to work through you. I want them gone by the end of the month. Everything that is theirs and not my grandmother’s gift, I want it out of here too.” Benson told her that Evie had purchased it all, because she’d paid the credit off monthly when it was ordered. “Then get rid of it all. I don’t care if you have to put it all out on the lawn and have a tag sale, get rid of it.”

“You will do no such thing.” Her father roared at her, and she stood up. “This is no way to treat me. You’ve no rights to this money. Your mother should get it all. I want nothing to do with you. So far as I’m concerned, you do not exist.”

“Oh, but I do, and you will have to deal with me. And as for you not wanting anything to do with me, that’s perfect because I want nothing to do with you either when this is over.”

He drew back his hand to no doubt hit her, but he never got the chance. Nick had him pinned to the wall even before his arm was cocked all the way back.

“Get out. Right now, get out before I call the police.”

“You will have respect for me, or so help me, I will ruin you.” She laughed at him. “Addison West, you’re to end this right now. I’ll…I’ll even see a way to letting you come to visit us when it’s a good time if you just do as you’re told.”

“I’m done doing what I’m told. As of right now, I have no parents.” She turned to Milly, the household cook and good friend. “Call the police, please? There are intruders in the house.”

When she left to do as she was asked, Addie turned to her mother. She sat there looking at Addie like she wanted to murder her. Her father looked at her no differently. Addie asked Nick to let her father go, and Addie watched as he straightened his suit and tie before addressing her.

“Now. This is the way we’re going to do this. Milly will not be calling the police, and if she has, then this is what you’re going to tell them. That you’ve only just gotten here after…after you’ve been kidnapped for so long and you were frightened. That will play nicely for the papers. You’ll, of course, have to stay in a nice facility for a time, just to make sure that you’re well. Then after that, you’ll live with someone who will care for you until such time as arrangements can be made for you to be out in the public again.” Addie shook her head. “Addison, I’m not going to put up with this any longer. You’ll do as you’re told for once in your life.”

“I’m going to live here. In my house, with my husband.” Addie took Nick’s hand when he put it out for her. “You will live where you want. How you want, and you will have to find a job, I guess.”

“Addison, what is wrong with you?” Addie turned to her mother, and her smile made Addie feel dirty and nasty. “This is not the way we do things. We’re Wests, and Wests do not marry the first man that comes along. If you insist on getting married after a time, we’ll find someone for you. Benson, darling, put out the word now that we’re in the market for a husband for Addison. He’ll have to be older than her. Someone that is established, and he must have his own money. We’re not parting with ours now that we have it back.”

Addie moved to the door, taking Nick with her. She was nearly to it when she heard the sirens. Her grandmother was right behind them when she opened the door for the police. This was going to be hard on her, she knew it. On both of them, she supposed. It was her mom and her grandmother’s daughter, but enough was enough. Smiling to the first officer in the door, she told him what was going on.

Within two hours, her parents were being led out of the house and into a waiting cab. Closing the door behind them, she leaned against it and cried. The strong arms around her had her turning into Nick’s chest and sobbing out her pain.

It took her an hour to settle the house. Most of the staff were glad to have her parents gone, and the few that weren’t were out the door almost as fast as her parents had been. She looked at the remaining staff and then at the house. Benson had told her that everything was taken care of, that all she had to do was sign the deed and the paperwork that would make her the richest woman in the world.

“There will be a great many changes.” May, who had been hiding in the other room until her parents had left, told her good. “Not all of them will be good, I’m afraid. Most will, I hope, but there will be some bumps in the road. I’ve never taken care of a house before.”

“We’ll help you.” May patted her on the back as she moved toward the telephone and picked it up. “I’m going to order pizzas. I’ve not had that many, and I’m finding that I’ve no energy to cook tonight.”

The entire staff sat in the dining room while Benson told them what was going to happen. The garage sale was going to be a little lighter because Nick and Addie agreed to let the staff have what they wanted of the household furniture, as she and Nick were going to start anew. Things were already looking up.

Her grandmother was in the living room just after things were cleaned up and Addie went to sit with her.

“I’m very proud of you.” Addie kissed her on the cheek and hugged her to her. “I just spoke to Bentley. He said to tell you that he’s proud of you as well.”

“I talked to him before coming here. I’ve asked him to live with us. He said that only if it was your desire. I’m hoping that you’ll say yes.” Her grandmother looked in the corner of the room and Addie did as well. “Grandda is there. I can see him.”

“I see him too. He told me that I’m going to be here awhile yet.” Addie felt her heart twist and she asked her what she meant. “I thought that now that you’re all settled that I’d just go and see him. But he said no. I have things to do here.”

“I should hope so. I know nothing about being the rich and famous.” Her grandmother smiled. “You can’t leave me, I need you. You’re all I have in the world.”

“You have Nick.” Addie nodded, but it wasn’t the same, she told her grandmother. “He’s in love with you. I’ve never seen a love like he has for you. Reminds me of my Jacob.”

“I love him too. He told me that even though he thinks that you’re an odd old bird, he loves you a great deal.” Her grandmother smiled. “Please say you’ll live with us. I really do need you. I have to learn how to be a West again.”

“You were never a West. And you shouldn’t want to be. You should be a Stark. That young man in there has a good solid name, and you’ll do well to use it.” Her grandmother took her hand in hers before continuing. “I’ll stay for a time. But the moment you get tired of me, I want to know. You can just kick me to the curb, all right?”

“I can live with that.” But they both were never going to be kicking anyone to the curb. Addie had her family back.

Chapter 14

“You should find you a woman and settle down. You’re much too young to be talking to an old woman like me.” Mitch snorted. He really did love this woman, and had she or even he been born in a different time, he’d have married her. Connie was one hell of a woman, ghost or not. “There has to be someone out there, younger, living, that you could be with.”

“There more than likely is, but I don’t want anyone else. You’re perfect.” She mumbled something about her being dead, that was what appealed to him, and he looked away.

“I’m sorry.” Mitch waved her off. “But you really do need someone in your life, Mitch. And you need to talk to Steele. He needs to know that you’re being sued.”

“I don’t have anything for them to take from me, and if he knew, he’d just step in and pay them off. There isn’t any reason for them to be suing me, but he’d do it anyway.” He sometimes wished that Connie wasn’t so easy to talk to. Like when he’d told her about the lawyer. “I think being sued by a foster parent because I ran away from their home and had the nerve to tell the authorities I was gone is just stupid. If they wanted me to stay, then maybe they shouldn’t have beat me.”

It was more than that. It was a great deal more than that. He’d been abandoned at a very young age, and had been shuffled around from home to home for a long time after that. They would figure out that he was a little on the odd side—Mitch supposed talking to ghosts wasn’t the norm—and then they’d kick him out. He’d even gone so far as to try to ignore the people who came to see him, and that hadn’t worked out well either. His life had been shit since he’d been dropped off at the neighbor’s house for a few hours and his parents never returned. Sometimes he wished that Ray had never pulled him from that box all that time ago to help him out.

“Mitch?” He looked up when his name was called from the house. Standing up, he waved at Kari, and then leaned against the fence railing that surrounded the cemetery. He had been debating for days if he should tell Connie or not, and now he supposed it was time.

“I’m leaving in a few days.” She asked him where he was going. “I was thinking New York. At least for a few weeks or so. Then…I don’t know after that. I just need to get away. And I figured this was as good a time as any.”

“Why?” He had hoped that she’d not ask him that, but when she did, he just looked beyond where they were. “Mitch Riley, you tell me where you’re going right this minute.”

“I’m not very useful here, and I need a break.” He looked at her then. Dawning and understanding seemed to come over her face at the same time. “I just need a break.”

“And this other thing? With the lawsuit? What will you do about it? If you go now, Steele will find out, and he won’t be happy that you didn’t let him know.” He knew that. And was trying to think of a way to tell him without sounding like a complete fool. “Please, just tell him.”

“I’ve never had money. I do now, of course, but I don’t know what to do with it. I don’t need a lot. Steele won’t take money for rent, and everything else—food and heat, and even transportation I need—he provides for me as well.” He was trying to get to the point, but he’d lost his way somehow. Smiling, he looked at Connie and remembered. “I’m going to tell him to use what he needs, I guess. I will take a little of what I have—there is about a hundred grand in the account—but wherever I go, I can make do with what I have or get a job.”

“You’re not going to be happy doing that. We both know that. You love helping people like us.” He did to a point, but like he’d told her, he needed a break. “Here he comes. Tell him now.”

Steele was walking toward him. He knew that the man came here a few times a week now and just sat by the graves. Mitch knew that he visited his father’s grave as well. Not often, but he’d go there when he was really frustrated and more than likely would tell the man how much he hated him. The closer Steele got to him, the more Mitch could tell he was upset.

“She’s gone.” Mitch didn’t have to ask him who. Eloise Bennett, the woman who had claimed to be his mother for most of his life, had died. “Kari said I should have her buried near my father. I think she might be right.”

Mitch said nothing, but watched as Connie left them alone. Steele and his parents were the worst kind of family. And the hatred between Eloise and him had been horrendous. Mitch waited for him to say more before he asked what he really wanted to know.

“Yes.” Mitch looked at Steele when he spoke. “You’re going to ask me, and I’m telling you yes, Aster was there when she died. She swears to me that she had nothing to do with it, but I don’t know if I believe her. Not that she doesn’t have a damned good reason for wanting her dead…both of us do. But I don’t know if she talked her into it or not.”

“If she said that she didn’t, then she didn’t.” Steele leaned against the railing like he was. Mitch was all right with the silence and so was Steele. They were the other two of the group that could sit in a room together and never say much more than a dozen words for hours on end. And they were comfortable with it.

“Do you know a person by the name of Vinnie Graham?” Mitch stiffened. Yes, he knew the name. It was the attorney who was trying to contact him about the lawsuit. “I got a letter from them today. Apparently, you’re being sued by a man by the name of Mark Bruce.”

“I was going to tell you eventually.” Steele said nothing, and Mitch decided it was time, more than likely past time. “I left their household when I was fifteen. Ten years ago I guess. There were some problems, some of it mine, mostly theirs. But when I left them, I called the agency and told them that I’d had enough. That I was no longer living with them and wouldn’t. That, I guess, stirred up a shit storm, and they were investigated. I don’t think anything ever came of it, but they did figure out that not only was I gone from their care, but two others. The state took their money away from them, as well as demanded a refund on the money they’d been paid. Now, it seems that they think that I did them wrong, and they want me to pay them for pain and suffering.”

“Did you? Suffer I mean?” Mitch didn’t answer Steele, but he must have figured it out. “And how much do they want for their pain and suffering after ten years?”

“Five million.” Steele whistled and stood up. Mitch did as well and they both started for the house. “I don’t have that kind of money. And even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to them. Not even as a settlement.”

They were about fifty feet from the house when Steele spoke again, “She’s here. Vinnie Graham. Showed up right before I went out to get you.”

“She?” Steele nodded. “I don’t want to talk to her. What the hell is she doing here? Trying to figure out if you can pay the debt for me?”

“She’s not representing the Bruces. Miss Graham wants to represent you.” Mitch stopped moving, and Steele had to stop and turn to look back at him. “Are you coming in to talk to her? And before you tell me no, I’ve had her looked into. Not for this, but for something…she wants to join my staff. And I guess she figured if she did a good job for you, I’d hire her.”

“So I’m her test subject.” Steele just stared at him. “I’m not going to dignify this lawsuit with a response. And hiring her will tell them that I have the money and can pay them.”

“If you say so.” Mitch loved Steele to death, but there were times, like right now, that he wanted to bash his head in. “She’s not human.”

“So?” Steele shrugged and started walking to the house again. “What is she, Steele? Another ghost? How will that work out for me? Having to relay everything she says so I can be made to look a fool again to these people.”

“She’s a vampire, and I doubt very much she will need you for much of anything to be honest. I’d say she’s about three, maybe four hundred years old. I guess she’s been studying law since before either of us were even thought of.” He turned to him again just before going in the kitchen door. “Come inside and talk to her. And before you go off halfcocked, you should know that she has a…I guess you would call it her familiar. Someone that helps her during the day. He’s very protective of her, so behave.”

Mitch felt his temper rise up. He hated vampires. They were usually very cruel because of their boredom with life, and they tended to be slightly condescending. Most of the time. The few that he’d had to deal with over his lifetime had left him feeling dirty and pissy. And not that any of them had ever bitten him, but he still didn’t like any of them. This woman with her familiar wasn’t going to be getting any job with Steele either, if he had any say in it.

Mitch knew that he had a chip on his shoulder when he entered the living room. And seeing Kari and Addie sitting there with her didn’t make his mood any better. How dare her suck up to the household like that? When the man stood up Mitch ignored him, but did note that he was flipping huge. Walking to who he assumed was Miss Graham, he started telling her what was what.

“I don’t want you to help me out. I’ve decided that I’m just going to ignore this thing and hope for the best. I don’t have that kind of money, and to think that I’d pay it to them for what they did to me is just ludicrous. To think that they’re suing me when it should be the—”

“Mr. Riley, that’s not me.” He turned at the sound of the voice and then looked back at the woman he’d been blasting. “Yeah, that’s my secretary. I’m Vinnie Graham.”

~~~

Vinnie watched his face. She could see that he was pissed off. About what, she had a good idea at the moment, but the way he had come into the room like he owned it made her think it was less about the lawsuit and more about her—a vampire. She’d heard from Gilda, her secretary, that Mr. Riley did not play well with others, and not at all with vampires. Vinnie hoped that that part might have been wrong. Apparently not.

“You’re very beautiful.” Both of them flushed, and he looked away from her. “But be that as it may, Miss Graham, I will not need your services now or in the future.”

“They’re not going to go away. And neither will I. There are more than just you in this suit, Mr. Riley. They’ve named nineteen people in this stupidity. And if only one of you lose to them, they will go after more stupid claims.” He turned and looked at her, and Vinnie could see that he was getting madder by the second. “I can go away, leave you to whatever it is you do, but they’re going to come at you. And if they can’t get it from you, they’ll sue Mr. Bennett here.”

“They’re working on that now.” Vinnie glanced at Steele when he spoke, but she watched Mitch. “They contacted my firm this morning, saying that I’m harboring you and they want their money. I’m not entirely sure what they think that means, but I’m sure that their lawyer will explain. I have a meeting with them next week.”

“You can’t be serious. Why are they going after you?” Vinnie started to tell Mitch why, but he answered his own question. “I see. You’re the rich and powerful Steele Bennett, right? Will they go after Addie next? Or her grandmother?”

“I’m sure that they have.” Mitch looked at her again. “This isn’t going to go away. Newspapers have picked it up. A television crew was at their home just last week, and was showing how much they’ve suffered because of the way you and the others as children have done them wrong.”

“We did them wrong? Do you have any idea what we had to suffer living there? The things that we had to do for a single meal a day?” She said nothing, and Mitch started pacing. The man could say more in one step than most people said in a whole conversation. “I ran away. I was only there for less than a year. And in that time…in that time I was treated with such atrocities that would…it was not a safe place for a child, much less a bunch of us.”

When Gilda stood up, Vinnie shook her head at her. She knew things too. Things that had happened to this young man that should never have happened to an adult, much less a child. When she sat down, Vinnie looked at Hugo. He nodded once and picked up her briefcase, as well as her coat. If he wouldn’t help her, then there was nothing much more she could do to make him. As they made their way to the door, Hugo stepped in front of her when someone, or something. moved beside her.

“She wants to know if you’re related to Mr. Douglas Graham.” Vinnie grabbed the back of the chair she was standing next to and nodded at Mitch. “She said that she’s glad that you’re no longer with him, but she wants to know if you killed him or did he get caught at something?”

“He was staked. About ten years ago.” Vinnie looked around but saw no one. But she could feel it. A presence that she’d felt before since coming into this house. “Who’s there?”

“She said that it’s not important right now. And you should know that you brought her here with you.” Mitch sat in the chair across from her and stared at something to her immediate left. “The woman is older, about sixtyish, I’d say. Dark hair and wearing a dress from about the turn of the century. I’d say she’s been gone for about fifty years.”

Vinnie moved around the chair then and sat down. She could feel Hugo there. He would never leave her, but Gilda was standing back. If this was who she thought it was, then Gilda would be in danger. All of them would be.

“Her name…ask her if she’s Millicent. I don’t know if I ever knew her last name.” Mitch nodded. “I see. And you can speak to her? See her even?”

“I can. You can’t, I take it.” Vinnie said she couldn’t see the dead. “I can. Did you know that before coming here?”

Vinnie stood up. She was slightly dizzy and terrified, but she stood straight now. “I’m sorry to have bothered you, Mr. Riley. I’m sure that without your help, the Bruces will win a suit or two, and that might satisfy them for a while.”